NorthWestern vs United States Naval Academy (USNA)

Northwestern University and the United States Naval Academy stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique path to success. Northwestern, a private research university, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 8.4%, while the Naval Academy, a federal service academy, offers a rigorous and specialized education with an acceptance rate of 9%. Both institutions excel in academics, with Northwestern known for its strengths in business, engineering, and the arts, and the Naval Academy renowned for its engineering, leadership, and military science programs. While Northwestern's student body is diverse, with a majority of undergraduates hailing from out-of-state, the Naval Academy's student body is predominantly male and includes midshipmen from all 50 states. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal goals.
Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University

United States Naval Academy logo

United States Naval Academy

Overview

Location Evanston, Illinois Annapolis, Maryland
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 99.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 7.0% 8.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $95
SAT range 1470 - 1570 1200 - 1420
ACT range 34 - 35 26 - 32
Students submitting SAT score 43.0% 69.0%
Students submitting ACT score 39.0% 48.0%
Total number of applicants 47,636 16,265
Total number of admissions given out 3,321 1,374
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,086 1,183
Yield rate 62.8% 86.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $83,838
Average net price $29,999
Tuition $60,276
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,271

Meal plan: $6,993
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

57.0%
Average amount $51,087
Students receiving federal student loan 23.0%
Average amount $4,625
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $38,595

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,847
Men 46.1% Women 53.9%
4,528
Men 71.3% Women 28.7%
Graduate students 14,562
Men 47.3% Women 52.7%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 92.6%
International students 17.8% 1.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 4,409 4,667
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Texas Maryland Virginia Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Legal Profession
  • Engineering
  • Social Sciences
  • Military Technologies
  • Physical Science
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 95.2% 91.3%
Dropout rate 4.2% 8.7%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,242
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $221,242
Business/Commerce, General (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $188,472
  • Year 3: $216,176
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $187,194
  • Year 2: $170,971
  • Year 3: $206,288
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $120,709
  • Year 2: $189,565
  • Year 3: $194,961
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $162,478
  • Year 2: $163,561
  • Year 3: $177,652
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $111,200
  • Year 2: $157,779
  • Year 3: $159,304
Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,321
  • Year 2: $141,586
  • Year 3: $154,556
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,288
  • Year 2: $118,465
  • Year 3: $132,325
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $118,780
  • Year 2: $111,323
  • Year 3: $130,124
Community Organization and Advocacy (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,760
  • Year 2: $113,668
  • Year 3: $128,046
N/A